Synergy: New Adult Romantic Suspense (U-District, #1) (48 page)
Read Synergy: New Adult Romantic Suspense (U-District, #1) Online
Authors: Jodi Ashland
Tags: #U-District Book 1
“You’re worried about Tucker’s image?”
Creases formed between the lawyer’s brows for a split second. “You two have talked?”
“Yes, and I can’t imagine how this could possibly hurt Tucker. If anything, it should make him more popular.”
“I’m afraid not, Miss Hawkins. You see, we’ve spent a lot of time and money creating his image and dispelling the rumors. You’ve made people question whether the rumors are true again, and we need you to fix it.”
“It’s too late. It’s already published.”
“Go public. Tell people it’s not about Tucker. You used a couple of words that happen to resemble him and his music and that’s all.”
“I can’t do that. It would be a lie.”
Mr. White fell silent. He swiped at a piece of hair that had fallen from the comb-over he was using to cover his receding hairline and turned to Tucker for a rebuttal.
Tucker didn’t move, didn’t utter a word.
The lawyer’s dark eyes returned to hers. “The alternative will be much messier, Miss Hawkins.”
Selena crossed her arms. “And what alternative might that be?” As if she didn’t already know.
“It seems you’re costing my client a lot of money.”
“Two million dollars?” she shot back.
His hand paused on its way to his mouth. “Precisely.”
“How could I have affected Tucker’s sales that much?”
“I have very precise charts on Tucker’s sales projections. After your book released and your publicist’s strategic posts, Tucker’s sales started to lag. I’ve determined over the next five weeks, Tucker will lose over two million in sales if we don’t do something to reverse it.”
“And you plan to sue me if I don’t do what you want.”
“I see you’re a smart woman.” He smiled and licked his finger, like a cat that had just eaten its prey.
“I see you’re a smart man, Mr. White.” Selena clamped her hands together on the table and leaned toward him. “So let’s see if you understand this. If you take me to court, you will have to prove that what I’ve said is false. And you can’t do that, because your client has confirmed that everything I’ve written is true. I will then have to hire a lawyer, and I’ll sue for legal expenses. This is a lose-lose situation for you.” She hoped Tucker’s lawyer didn’t call her bluff. Like she had any money to hire a lawyer.
Mr. White leaned back, his superior smile turning into a grim line.
“I can see you understand.” Selena stood and walked out with her head held high, her shoulders back, and what she hoped was a look of confidence on her face. Inside, her stomach was churning.
She stepped out to the busy Los Angeles sidewalk, inhaling car fumes and not having a clue where she was. To top it off, she had no purse, no phone, and no way home.
Crap!
What was she going to do now? Should she go back in and ask Tucker for a ride, or find another way home? She walked to the corner, debating what to do next.
A seventies-era lowrider pulled alongside her, the bass so loud she turned toward it. The classic car was jet black, with windows tinted dark enough that she couldn’t see inside. Its chassis practically scraped the asphalt, and the bright silver rims of the tires continued to spin even when the vehicle came to a stop—right in front of her.
The window opened and the music went off. “Need a ride, sister?”
The small tattoo on her right shoulder was nothing compared to the tattoos—or maybe it was a single tattoo—that ran down the entire length of the man’s arm, the black ink contrasting sharply with his pasty skin. He wore dark shades and had a gold stud in one ear, making him look like a washed-up rock star twice her age.
“No, I’m good.” She forged a polite smile and started to step back from the curb.
He lunged out of the window, grabbed her arm, and pulled her toward the car.
Award-winning author Jodi Ashland has an undergraduate degree in Management Information Systems from Pennsylvania State University and a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Washington. As a Navy brat, she moved around the world every few years before settling in the Pacific Northwest, where she now lives with her husband and children. Jodi loves spending time outdoors, including gardening, skiing, kayaking, hiking, and camping. During rainy months, she enjoys curling up with a great book or pounding the keyboard to get those pesky characters out of her head and onto virtual paper. You can visit her online at
http://www.jodiashland.com
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